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About Equinox Center

MISSION

To ensure a healthy environment, vibrant communities and a strong economy for the San Diego Region, Equinox Center researches and advances innovative solutions to balance regional growth with our finite natural resources.

VISION

Current and future generations living in San Diego County enjoy a superior quality of life because the region is a model for sustainability.

 

CORE VALUES

  • Strong Economy. We support a competitive economy that yields widely shared prosperity across our region. We believe the creation of well-paying jobs should provide real opportunities for success in every city and neighborhood, and should not jeopardize our air or water quality, nor our citizens’ health.
  • Healthy Environment. We stand for stewardship of San Diego County’s distinctive natural beauty and unique habitats: our land, water, climate, air quality, natural areas, beaches and our richly diverse ecosystems.
  • Vibrant Communities. We believe in fostering inspiring places that people like to live, work, and visit; communities that enhance the health, safety, and quality of life of our diverse population, respect local culture, use resources wisely, and provide convenient, reliable transportation options.

Inspired by these values, we are proponents for our region’s responsible growth and we support the conscientious care-taking of the natural and economic assets that we have inherited.

WHAT WE DO

Equinox Center is an independent, non-partisan, not for profit research and policy center (a think tank) that turns research into action to help the San Diego region achieve a more prosperous economy, healthy environment and outstanding quality of life for all its residents as it grows. Through in-depth research, policy analysis, communications and convenings, Equinox inspires, informs and engages the public and decision makers in crafting better solutions to our region’s growth challenges.

Equinox Center assists policy makers, community leaders and interested individuals in planning for the inevitable increased pressure on our energy and water supplies, housing infrastructure, natural areas, and transportation systems, while ensuring our region’s continued prosperity by:

  • Translating the best available scientific and economic research into practical solutions
  • Educating the public on our natural resource and sustainability issues
  • Developing usable metrics and tracking our region's progress
  • Building strategic working relationships with key stakeholders throughout the San Diego Region
  • Providing expert resources for decision makers and public discussions
  • Working effectively with the media to get the Center's message out
  • Remaining firmly objective, nonpartisan and independent

Our region’s population is estimated to grow by 650,000 people by 2030. As our families grow up and need their own homes, and businesses thrive, attracting new residents, Equinox Center strives to maintain and enhance our exceptional quality of life for San Diego County residents and our many visitors.

EQUINOX STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: 2011-2014

  • The region has a blueprint or set of plans for appropriate development and growth which maintain or enhance quality of life for residents in the region
  • State, regional and local decision makers promote or vote for policies that result in moving Dashboard Indicators in the right direction
  • The public and those who influence policy makers are increasingly aware of the  link between economy and environment and potential solutions to challenges, and use Equinox research to influence policy makers

CORE ISSUES

When we achieve our mission, our region will be well on its way to having:

  • An ample, reliable, safe water supply plan that encourages water efficiency, increases the use of recycled water, develops safe local sources of water in a sustainable way and reflects the true value of water to the region
  • An efficient, convenient, cost-effective and environmentally sound transportation system
  • Clean, reliable, affordable energy that improves air quality and reduces our region’s green house gas emissions over time
  • A balanced mix of land uses that includes appropriate commercial and affordable residential development, open space, and traditional working landscapes such as farms and grazing areas